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Russia claims rebels used chemical weapons

Russia claims to have new evidence that Syria's rebels were behind a chemical weapons attack just outside Allepo earlier this year.

Transcript

TONY JONES, PRESENTER: Russia says it has new evidence that Syria's rebels were behind a chemical weapons attack just outside Aleppo earlier this year.

At least 27 people were killed and dozens injured when a missile hit the town of Khan al-Assal.

Russia's ambassador to the UN says the missile was carrying sarin nerve gas loaded by the rebels.

VITALY CHURKIN, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UN: The projectile involved is not a standard one for chemical use. Hexogen, utilized as an opening charge, is not used in standard ammunitions. Therefore there is every reason to believe that it was the armed opposition fighters who used the chemical weapons in Khan al-Assal.

TONY JONES: UN officials say they believe chemical weapons were used in the attack, but they can't say who was responsible, they reckon, without further investigation.

The US, Britain and France have all accused the Assad regime of using chemical weapons on multiple occasions and say they haven't seen any evidence to suggest use by Syria's rebels.